Conveyor C11 completes site acceptance test as all four conveyor systems now ready to drive Metro Manila Subway’s next construction phase.

TERRATEC has successfully installed four Continuously Advancing Tunnel Conveyors for Contract Package CP101 of the Metro Manila Subway Project, reinforcing its role in this landmark infrastructure development. The Shimizu-Fujita-Takenaka-EEI Joint Venture, executing the project for the Department of Transportation, continues to rely on TERRATEC’s advanced conveying technology to maintain efficient excavation progress on the Philippines’ first underground railway system.

A total of Four TERRATEC Continuously Advancing Conveyors will play a vital role in the construction of the 33.1-kilometer subway section, connecting Mindanao Avenue in the northern part of Metro Manila to Western Bicutan in the south. The four tunnel conveyors deployed for CP101 are currently in place across two key sections: C09 and C10 operate between the Metro Manila Subway Depot and Quirino Highway Station, while C11 and C12 serve the alignment from North Avenue Station to Tandang Sora Station.

The project reached a key milestone on March 28 with the successful site acceptance testing of the conveyor system C11. This 1,850-meter-long conveyor, along with its C12 counterpart, will support TBM3 when assembly begins in January 2025, operating at a capacity of 225m³/h to handle the challenging ground conditions. Meanwhile, TBM4 is preparing to resume excavation in December 2024 as work progresses on the 33.1-kilometer route connecting Mindanao Avenue to Western Bicutan.

The four-system configuration represents a comprehensive logistics solution designed specifically for the project’s complex requirements. The first two conveyors (C09 and C10) have already completed their successful service supporting TBMs 1 and 2, while the newly accepted C11 and its counterpart C12 stand prepared to maintain uninterrupted operations for the upcoming tunnelling stages.

The new conveyors C11 and C12 feature specialized adaptations for Metro Manila’s mixed geology, including hydraulic tensioning systems, widened roller sets, and TERRATEC’s patented advancing tail piece with active hydraulics to maintain optimal performance through curves. These systems will help manage the estimated 1.2 million cubic meters of spoil expected from the CP101 section alone.

With all four TERRATEC conveyor systems now fully deployed, the Metro Manila Subway Project reaches a crucial material handling milestone, demonstrating the precision phasing and coordinated planning essential for megaprojects where uninterrupted excavation relies on perfectly synchronized, high-capacity spoil removal systems – a testament to how integrated logistics solutions drive progress in major underground infrastructure as the project advances toward its next construction phase.

When completed in 2028, the Metro Manila Subway will transform urban mobility for an estimated 370,000 daily passengers. With tunnel completion expected within 7-8 months, TERRATEC continues to demonstrate its leadership in providing innovative tunnelling solutions for major infrastructure projects across the globe.

source: Terratec press release. https://terratec.co/full-fleet-of-terratec-conveyor-systems-gear-up-for-metro-manila-subways-next-phase/